Prayer and Pacific: Old-time radio listening, 13 May

President Truman in Washington and the King and Queen of England attend services on a mutually declared Day of Prayer commemorating the end of the European war; a carrier attack on Japan and Japanese air forces trying to answer; Marines continuing their plunge toward the Okinawan capital; Australian troops closing in on liberating New Guinea from Japanese forces; rumours of former S.S. Commander-in-chief Heinrich Himmler being seized.

Also: Churchill plans to address his country in celebration of the Allied victory, and Lt. Gen. James Doolittle’s Eighth Air Force overflies London in celebration; a report on the early days of Austria following the Allied liberation; a summary of the Pacific war’s status as of this day, and a key United Nations security conference addressing possible subversion in Central and South America while transcending regional nation blocs en route “a real peace machinery”; Truman’s opening salvo in “a dramatic psychological campaign” against Japan’s war command, aiming toward unconditional surrender “that does not mean extermination or enslavement”; the Soviet Union’s urging at the U.N. of quick arraignments for Himmler, Hermann Goering, Franz von Papen, and Rudolf Hess; and, observations of similarities and differences between Germany’s reaction to the end of this war and the end of World War I.

Elmer Davis and the News: Ahead of Schedule (CBS, 1940)—The first day of the Nazi blitzkrieg against the so-called low countries—including Belgium (taking the apparent hardest hits to this point) and the Netherlands, whose troops continue fighting along two key rivers—seems well enough ahead of Hitler’s planned schedule, though what proves an actual bid to capture Dutch Queen Wilhelmina doesn’t go as hoped for the Nazis. Blooper alert: Listen for Davis’s mangle of Britain and Italy.

On the Advance into Belgium (BBC, 1940)—BBC correspondent Bernard Stubbs in a clip addressing the early Allied response, crossing the Franco-Belgian border to meet the Nazi blitz to the enthusiasm of battered Belgians.

Easy Aces: Jane Smashes the Car (CBS, 1941)—With two marital separations—both tied to Betty (Ethel Blume) leaving Carl (Alfred Ryder) over their baby’s name a month earlier—and Jane (Ace) trying to make profits by buying and selling her own furniture at auction, (Goodman) Ace (whose monkey wrench into the furniture scheme backfires) borrows Carl’s car to go back to the house, Jane has to back Betty’s car out before she can take Ace’s car to the Neff apartment, and they all end up a smash hit. Don’t ask—laugh. Marge: Mary Hunter. Announcer: Ford Bond. Writer/director: Goodman Ace.

The Whistler: A Matter of Courtesy (CBS, 1951)—Tony nightspot co-owner Cressie Carter (Jeanette Nolan) is known popularly for big-hearted generosity and sociability, but her disillusioned husband (Ted DeCorsia) would rather be with their popular singer (Gigi Pearson)—if he can find a way to do it without losing his half-ownership of the club. Nick: Herbert Litton. Police Lieutenant: Bill Bouchet. The Whistler: Bill Forman. Announcer: Marvin Miller. Music: Wilbur Hatch. Director: George W. Allen. Writer: Charles Wilson.